Window display conveyer apparatus



L. M. GRAVES ETAL WINDOW DISPLAY CONVEYER APPARATUS yDec. I3, 1949 Filed Sept. 20, 1945 Patented Dec. 13, 1949 WINDOW DISPLA APPARA Y CGNYEYER TUS Leonardl M. Graves and .Elbert M: Graves, Knoxville, Tenn.

- Application September 20, 1945, Serial N0.'617,'514

2 Claims.. (Cl. 2111.5)

This invention relates to window v.display apparatus, and has particular reference to devices of this character in which-the display is automatically continuously changed.

-One object of the invention is to provide a window `display apparatus having improved means whereby a kstore rmay exhibit much greater amount .and variety of its merchandise than the capacity f its show window would normally permit.

yAnother .objectofthe invention is to provide apparatus of the typementioned having improved means wherein the moveable display may be changed out `of sight while a portion of the display is on exhibit in the window.

Anotherobjectof the .invention is the provision of. apparatus of the nature set forth having improved conveyor means constructed and arranged soA that a portionof the conveyor may be loaded, for instance in a basement beneathv the show window or in some other .concealed compartment which is easily accessible within the store, without disturbing thatportion of the display that 'is being exhibited in the window, and even without stopping the .movement of the conveyor.

Another object ofthe invention is 4to furnish display apparatus having improved means whereby an endless conveyor is furnished with a series of rotary display carrier units;` and aV supple-v mental object is to provide actuator means for causing rotation vof the display units while the conveyor is in motion or even while the conveyor is stationary; and preferably the invention provides for rotation 'of vthe carrier display units along' the exhibit portion of' the conveyor path so that the display units may be changed or rearranged in a convenient manner at other portions of the path withoutinterrupting the movement ofthe conveyor.

' Other objects and vadvantages of the invention will become apparent as the 4specification proceeds.

A"With -theaforesaid objects in view, the invention vcomprises the lnovel features,` combinations and arrangementsof parts hereinafter described inl their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claimsl and illustrated in the an nexed drawing, Vwherein like parts are designated by the same reference. characters throughout the several views.

v.In thedrawlng: Fig. 111s` a diagrammatic view and front eleva- .tionshowing a .window displayvIa-pparatus. ein.. bodying the invention.

Fig. 2 v'is an enlarged transverse sectional view ofthe apparatusfwith yparts removed but showing additional details vof the apparatus.

` Fig. 3Jis a fragmentary sectional view of a lower portionfof the apparatus, showing a drive element therefor.

Fig. 4 isan enlarged view with parts in sections showing further details `of `a display carrier unit.

Fig. 5 is. a horizontal section of the unit of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6-'is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion ofthe conveyor.

Fig. 7 is a rsectional viewy taken on the line 'I-l of;Fig. 3.

-Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-.810f Fig. 2.

f The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all Yof its features and instrumentalities-are combined, but, useful embodiments may beproduced involving less than the whole.

It will be obvious to4 those skilled in the art .to which` the `invention lappertains, that the same may be incorporated.inseveraldiiferent constructions. The, accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely asshowing a preferred exemplicationof the, invention.

Referring in .detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a window display apparatus embodying the invention. ,The `part v.Il may consist of asuitable casing or building provided with a display windowv I2 having ailoor. I3. The latter thus divides the casing Il into an upper ,display section and into a lower .concealing section I4, and the por.u tions oftherase-.Il at the ends and at the` top of the'window mayalsoeryet house and con.- cealportions jof .the .conveyor apparatus, The latter preferably includesan endless flexible con.- veyor I5 which engages around` appropriately mounted pulleys or Sprockets IB, whereby the conveyor travels in .avertical plane with an upper run I5@ at the .top ofthe window and, a lower `run l5b below .the flooi` 1.3. The vertical runs lcare disposed .laterally of the vends of the window. Mounted on the conveyor-J5 is aseries ofA carrier display .units Il .which are so coordinated in arrangement with the conveyor that a relatively large number .ofsaid unitscan be carried thereby vin relatively-close Vrelation to each other so that @Inappropriate .numberrof the units may always beshown .at the window I2 at any; one time. Rrefera-bly the display units l 1 are suspended on theqconveyor byyany .suitable .means at I 8 whchpermits rotation of, the. units zaboilzttheir vertical axes. Actuator means for the conveyor may include any suitable drive, for example toothed wheels I9 on a shaft 20 connected to a suitable source of power such as a motor 2 I, with the interposition of a speed reduction means such as toothed wheels 22, 23 and 24. The arrangement shown is considered to have certain advantages as against a drive directly connected to certain of the sprocket wheels I6. For causing rotation of the display units l1, the suspension shafts 25 of the latter may be provided with toothed wheels or sprockets 26 disposed soas to be engageable with a toothed member 21 that extends longitudinally of the upper run la of the conveyor. This member 21 is preferably an endless chain or other flexible member mounted on Wheels or sprockets 28, 29, the latter connected through a speed reduction means 30 to a source of power such as a motor 3i.

In operation, the conveyor l5 travels to carry the display units il' continuously through the display casing Ii, across the windowl2 thereof. A plurality of these units are always shown at the window while other units are ascending and descending along the vertical` runs 50. Still other units are moving horizontally below the window floor l2 and through the basementsection ifi of the casing. In the latter the arrangement of the displays carried by the units I1 may be changed or the units may be replaced by others. During this movement of the conveyor I5, those display units l1 which are at the window E2 are constantly rotated so that all parts and sides of a display or of articles exhibited may be easily observed. The members '265 come into and out of engagement with the nexible drive element in any suitable manner, and such engagement may be merely frictional such as that which occurs between a belt and a pulley. But this engagement occurs preferably only along the upper run i5a of the conveyor. Along the bottom run |51) the display units do not rotate, and hence the displays may be changed While the units are being carried by the moving conveyor. Because the members i5 and 21 are separately driven, the display units may be roA tated while the conveyor is stationary. This is ci advantage because it may be preferred to exhibit certain special articles for a prolonged period of time. Then again it will be possible by the use of a variable speed motor 3l to drive the member 21 at such a speed with relation to the moving conveyor that the display unit I1 will be non-rotating. Accordingly it is seen that the invention provides an apparatus which is highly ilexible in operation for instant adjustability to a great variety of conditions.

The display units I1 may be of. any desired arrangement and construction. For instance, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of them may include a plurality of angular upright walls 33 to furnish three (3) main compartments which may be further divided by a horizontal shelf 34. These units may be detachable as by providing a coupling or screw threaded connection 35 at the suspension shafts 25.

Referring now to Fig. 2, further details of the conveyor construction are shown, the latter being illustrated as included two (2) separate conveyors in order to permit a sufficient number of display units I1 to be simultaneously exhibited at the Window, the units on one of these conveyors being staggered relative lto those on the other. These sepa-rate conveyors 36 areidentcal in construction and each includes a pair of sep- 4 arate ilexlble members or endless chains 31 on the sprocket wheels I6, the arrangement being in all respects like that described for Fig. 1 except for the introduction of additional details to show a complete arrangement. A bracket structure 38 secured to the ceiling of the show case may carry depending longitudinal anges 39 and 40 for mounting the sprocket wheels I6 along the top run of the conveyor, and also for carrying channels 4l having longitudinally lipped anges which engage the conveyor chains 31 to assume the weight of the display units and prevent sagging between the sprocket wheels I6. Each conveyor chain 31 is of any suitable construction and is formed with toothed elements 42 pivotably interconnected by links 43, and formed with headed portions i4 adapted Y to slideably engage in the tracks 4i. Journaled in certain of the elements 42 are horizontal shafts or rungs 45 formed with hubs 46 in which are journaled the vertical shafts 25 on which the display units are suspended. AflXed on these shafts 25 are the drive wheels 26 engaging the chain or belt 21 which engages around the wheels 28, 29. The arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 8, with the member 21 forming a loop horizontally extending around the flange 40 and the adjacent tracks 4l. It is noted that the elements 28 are spaced suiiciently laterally of the sprockets I6 to avoid interference.

The operation of the apparatus in connection with the further details of construction just described will now be briefly explained. By the provision of a single rotating means 21 in the relationship shown, the display units on both. conveyors 36 are simultaneously rotated along the upper run, and such rotation will occur in opposite directions, thus adding variety to the display elect. Since certain of the display units travel along the front of the display case and others along the rear thereof, an attractive effect in depth of display is obtained. By locating the displayer units between a pair of chains 31, interference with the latter is avoided, and like. wise the members 26 will always be spaced away from those chains, and nally a balanced suspension eifect is afforded. Details relating to the mounting of the lower run of the conveyor, for carrying the adjacent sprocket Wheels .and for avoiding sag are not specically shown, being well within the knowledge of any one skilled in the art, but of course tracks such as 4l may also be provided along the lower run of the conveyor. The'motor 2l and the reduction drive may be disposed in any suitable place inwardly of thecasing Il or within the store itself.

series of display carriers mounted on each conveyor, means for pivotally suspending the.v display carriers on the different conveyors including means for rotatably mounting the displayA carriers, comprising a rotary actuator portion connected to each display carrier, an endless flexible member having horizontal runs respec?y tively engaging the actuator portions of the dis-1 play carriers of the different conveyors along one of the horizontal runs and disengag'ing the actuator'portions at an end of the saidhorizontal run of the conveyors, and meansfor moving the endless member and the conveyors.

2. A device including a sprocket-mounted endl' less conveyor having a horizontal run and a vertical run, a plurality of rungs spaced along and pivoted to the conveyor, a series of upright display carriers rotatably suspended on the rungs so that the carriers are maintained upright, the,

spacing between the rungs being suicent to permit a display carrier to move between a pair of adjacent rungs along the vertical run of the conveyor, means for moving the conveyor, and means for rotating the display carriers along one of the runs independently of the movement of the conveyor.

LEONARD M. GRAVES.

ELBERT M. GRAVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Long Dec. 15, 1903 Fuller Sept. 12, 1911 Leyland et al Sept. 6, 1921 Dearduri May 26, 1925 Sigsbee Dec. 18, 1934 Haub Mar. 2, 1937 Reymers Juiy 11, 1939 Levy et al. Oct. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1901 

